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addle-brain

addle-brain

9.9
A person who is confused and forgetful
  • noun
  • /ˈædəlˌbreɪn/
  • Offensive
translation icon : mentecato
  • Don't be such an addle-brain; you left your keys in the fridge again!

Examples

  • She laughed and admitted she's a bit of an addle-brain when it comes to remembering appointments.

  • After working for hours without a break, I felt like an addle-brain and couldn't focus on anything.

  • Don't be such an addle-brain!

  • She is always acting like an addle-brain when she forgets her keys.

  • After working for hours without a break, I felt like an addle-brain and couldn't focus on anything.

  • She laughed and admitted she's a bit of an addle-brain when it comes to remembering appointments.

  • Don't be such an addle-brain; you left your keys in the fridge again!

Synonyms

scatterbrain
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
1 7.0

A person who often forgets things and is easily distracted

is about mental confusion and disorientation rather than only poor focus
puzzlehead
vsaddle-brain
  • Slang
9.7

A person who is often confused or forgetful

is the neutral term for confusion rather than informal slang
feather-brain
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
9.1

A person who often forgets things and acts silly

stresses mental disorientation and memory problems rather than mere foolishness
fish brain
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
9.0

A person who often forgets things and is not careful

is a neutral description of confusion rather than a derogatory label
addle-head
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who often thinks in a confused or silly way

focuses on temporary disorientation and forgetfulness rather than lasting incapacity
addlehead
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is foolish and cannot think clearly

highlights confused or forgetful states rather than judgement about seriousness
der-brain
vsaddle-brain
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts foolishly or forgets things

applies to confused or forgetful people rather than chiefly insulting behaviour

How Confused

airhead
  • Offensive
13 8.8
addle-brain
  • Offensive
9.9
scatterbrain
  • Offensive
1 7.0
forgetter
6.3

Surface Forms

addle-brain singular
addle-brains plural

Morphology

addle-brain = addle + brain (transparent) = addle + brain

The compound directly combines 'addle' (to confuse) + 'brain' (mind) to denote someone with a confused mind, so the meaning is straightforward for learners who know the components.

Etymology

Addle-brain comes from addle, a word that means 'to make confused' or 'rotten' (as in an 'addled egg'), and brain, the 'thinking part' of the head. So an addle-brain is someone whose thinking is mixed up or forgetful.